“We Won’t Slow Down On Safety Initiatives”-Ikeja Electric

“We Won’t Slow Down On Safety Initiatives”-Ikeja Electric

In furtherance to her aggressive safety strategy across her Business Units, Nigeria’s leading electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric Plc has commenced a systemic tagging of her Distribution Substations across her network.

The DT Tags, as they are called are fluorescent signages with identification codes for the transformer/substation, placed conspicuously on sides of the substation for both customers and technical employees.

The Tags, which have the primary use of warning would be trespassers against accessing the high risk live environment of the substation, also makes it easier for customers who wish to report faults or other issues with a particular substation. The customers simply quote the tag number to the customer care platform they are reporting on and this allows for faster intervention.

Speaking on the usefulness of the tagging process, Head Corporate Communication, Felix Ofulue said, “We cannot compromise on safety! It is a non-negotiable for us. Ours is a high risk business where any form of carelessness could cost lives, and this is a price too high for us to pay”.

“ Recall that last year at the National Power Summit, the Honorable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had committed to reducing the alarming trend in public fatality in Nigeria’s Power sector. NEMSA also constantly tows this same line and we have no option but to do same as well, because a life lost is a huge resource and opportunity wasted. This is why we have implemented this tagging system to both warn communities against accessing live environments and also being able to shut down transformers that are faulty and posing high risks to life and property when customers make reports and quote the DT number saving time in fault tracing which could save lives,” Ofulue concluded.

The tagging system also allows for accurate network mapping which will progressively improve to an automated geotagging system for improved network performance. Substations under Ogba, Ifako, Ojodu and PTC Undertakings have been tagged, in the continuous campaign that will see several thousands of infrastructure tagged.

Similarly, Ikeja Electric has launched its second safety app, I-Safe on Google PlayStore. The app which allows users to take live pictures of hazards, faults and field incidences for immediate intervention by HSE and Technical Field Teams, is a follow app to IE’s Powerplay a safety based mobile gaming app that advocates safe practices in homes and offices. Both games have received impressive response as number of downloads is on the rise.